the throwing line after
tagging a player, as he in turn may be tagged as soon as the new guard
has placed his duck on the rock.

A stone that falls very near the duck rock without displacing the duck
may also prove disastrous to the thrower. Should a stone fall within a
hand span (stretching from finger tip to thumb) of the duck rock
without knocking off the duck, the guard challenges the thrower by
shouting "Span!" whereupon he proceeds to measure with his hand the
distance between the duck rock and the stone. Should the distance be
as he surmises, the thrower of the stone has to change places with
him, put his own duck on the rock, and become the guard. This rule
cultivates expert throwers.

When used in a gymnasium, this game may best be played with bean bags,
in which case one bag may be balanced on top of an Indian club for the
duck on the rock.

The modern Greeks play this game with a pile of stones instead
of the one rock or stake with the duck on top. The entire pile
is then knocked over, and the guard must rebuild the whole
before he may tag the other players. These variations make the
game possible under varied circumstances, as on a flat beach,
or playground where no larger duck rock is available, and add
considerably to the sport.

DUMB-BELL TAG

_5 to 30 or more players._

_Gymnasium; playground; schoolroom._

The players stand, scattered promiscuously, one of their number, who
is It, being placed in the center at the opening of the game. A
dumb-bell is passed from one player to another, the one who is It
trying to tag the person who has the dumb-bell. If he succeeds, the
one tagged becomes It.

A great deal of finesse may be used in this game; in appearing to hand
the dumb-bell in one direction, turning suddenly and handing it in
another, etc. Players may move around freely, and the action is
frequently diversified with considerable running and chasing.

In the schoolroom this may be played either with the players seated or
standing.

EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN DEN

_5 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

Each player selects for himself a den; a post, tree, or other
objective point may serve for this, or the corner of a building, or if
in a gymnasium, a piece of apparatus.

One player opens the game by running out from his den. The second
player tries to catch (tag) him. The third player may try to catch
either of these two, and so